He was muddy, ruddy and drenched in sweat from a long ride up Mount Tamalpais, but 10 years ago, when Mark Marinozzi, now 47, stepped off his bike at the Peet's in Mill Valley, Gwen Brandes Marinozzi, now 42, couldn't help but notice his beautiful green eyes. She commented as much to her sister, Rachel.

Sis, with two kids in tow - one only 3 weeks old and whimpering - urged her to make a move in Mark's direction, but Gwen was too shy. Nevertheless, iced coffees and baby on board, Rachel launched herself onto the bench out front of Peet's, right next to Mark. Then she undid her shirt and began to breast-feed her baby.

"In order for Mark not to stare at my sister's chest," Gwen says, "he made direct eye contact with me."

"We met over coffee - with milk," jokes Mark, who was drawn to Gwen's bright, wide smile. The two soon realized that, in addition to having both attended UC Davis to study design, they had friends in common. There was an obvious affinity, but both were dating others. Mark, no stranger to having friendships with women, invited Gwen for a hike, and soon they were hanging out regularly. Over several years, their relationship developed. One day, while discussing dot-com schemes in Mark's office, which was then in a San Francisco loft, he dropped the business tone and suggested they become more than friends. Gwen was more than ready.

"Thrilled," she reports. "We kissed right then and there."

Though they admit they couldn't be more different in many ways - Mark says Gwen is "old school" and he "new school" - the connection of values and core interests went deep. After a couple of years, the idea of marriage had come to the fore, and when it did, Mark knew where he wanted to propose.

On a rainy night at Peet's, with Gwen perched on the bench where they first met, he fell on a bended and soggy knee. "Yes," Gwen said immediately when she saw a ring, while well-wishers at Peet's applauded. They were married in 2004, in Sonoma, where Mark now works as vice president of marketing for J Vineyards and Winery.

The couple return to the bench at Peet's annually for the anniversary of their meeting, only now they are joined by their own two kids, Lilianna, 3, and Caden, not yet 2. There is a slat on the Peet's bench that is broken, and they've been trying to find out who owns it so they can get it fixed. Peet's says it's not their bench, nor does the stationery shop next door lay claim to it.

Maybe they own it? They laugh.

On a decade together: Gwen: "Ten years ago seems like yesterday; it makes you realize you have to pay attention."

Mark: "Life is short. I want to be with the kids as much as possible while we can."